The Swim4fun Club is a new non-profit association, established in July 2024 and affiliated with the Portuguese Swimming Federation. Its primary goal is to develop and promote the practice of Open Water Swimming and encourage members to participate in competitions.
Our mission
Promover a prática da natação em águas abertas e proporcionar uma comunidade acolhedora para nadadores.
Our values
Respect for the Environment and People: We value harmony with nature and the well-being of our members. We promote environmental preservation and a respectful and inclusive environment, ensuring a positive and sustainable impact on the community and the environment.
Health and Well-being: We prioritize the physical and mental health of our members. By encouraging regular exercise and fostering a connection with nature, we promote a balanced and healthy lifestyle.
Excellence and Dedication: We encourage each swimmer to reach their full potential and continuously strive for improvement and excellence.
Espírito de Equipa e Camaradagem
Team Spirit and Camaraderie: We value mutual support, collaboration, and strengthening relationships among swimmers, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to overcome challenges together.
Meet us
Leadership
Bibiana Elena Schmidt Farias
President
Passionate about entrepreneurship, people, and sports from a young age, I began my athletic journey early in BMX.
Later, I practiced various sports in my youth, including competitive swimming. I studied Communication, Business Management and Marketing, and Sports Management. After completing my master's degree, I started practicing triathlon, took courses in triathlon coaching, became a Personal Trainer and swimming coach, which is when I discovered my true passion.
My motivation is to combine swimming with the pleasure of being in nature safely, which is why I created Swim4fun. It is a school in both theory and practice, offering practical swimming lessons as well as organizing lectures, events, and workshops on various topics such as safety, nutrition, and breathing.
Now I am realizing another dream, founding the Swim4fun Club with the goal of encouraging more people to enjoy the benefits of practicing a comprehensive sport directly connected to nature. Additionally, I aim to motivate, prepare, and guide swimmers to participate in training environments and open water swimming and triathlon events/competitions.
Ao desafiar-me a atravessar um rio, a pouca técnica e a corrente deste atraiçoaram tal desígnio que, não fosse o olhar atento e natação pronta do meu tio António, ia acabando em tragédia. Daqui resultou um receio enorme em voltar-me a aventurar em águas abertas. O trauma só seria superado mais tarde com recurso a um treino diferenciado, desde a natação em piscina até a um Curso de Sobrevivência no Mar. O sonho de realizar um Ironman seria o teste final, na medida em que exigiu um treino regular em águas abertas, com condições meteorológicas e marítimas, por vezes, bastante adversas. Desde então, o contacto com as águas abertas tornou-se tão natural quanto correr, pedalar ou realizar outra atividade em terra. Cabe agora, por via do Clube Swim4fun, trabalhar para ajudar a desenvolver um centro de referência na modalidade de Natação em Águas Abertas, que proporcione não só um acompanhamento ímpar a todos os atletas que o procuram, como também dinamize uma plataforma de partilha de conhecimentos e experiências.pe.
From an early age, I fell in love with aquatic competitions and discovered a true vocation for swimming. When I moved to Portugal, I was introduced to a new challenge and love: the sea. This vast and mysterious ocean brought new opportunities and, of course, some challenges, like jellyfish. However, with a lot of resilience and determination, I faced these obstacles and continued to improve my skills. Additionally, I continue to compete and constantly challenge myself. Outside the water, I also dedicate myself to IT project management, combining my passion for sports with my professional career. Swimming is more than a sport for me; it is a way of life that has taught me valuable lessons about perseverance, discipline, and love for what we do. I am excited to be part of this swimming club and to contribute to the aquatic community.
With a fascination for the sea nurtured since childhood by National Geographic documentaries, he started swimming at the age of 10 and, over time, also practiced Kendo and
Boxe, mas nunca deixou o cloro das piscinas. Em 2019, descobriu as águas abertas e, desde então, não parou mais. Mergulhador, já mergulhou em quase todos os oceanos. Teve a sua estreia nas longas travessias na Travessia Faial-Pico e agora sonha com provas de 10km para cima. Próximo desafio: tornar-se treinador de natação.
Born in Italy and Portuguese by adoption, a lover of the sea and everything surrounding it. Always lived by the sea and vacations are only vacations if they include saltwater or freshwater.
She embraced open water swimming during the pandemic, never stopped, and this activity became a kind of life philosophy.
Strongly convinced that it is never too late to start something new and that the sea and sports activities can bring communities closer and strengthen bonds between people, she sees sharing this interest as a source of new ideas and small individual and collective goals to achieve.
Natural de São Miguel, nos Açores, tenho 37 anos e vivo em Lisboa há 14 anos, onde construí minha carreira na área financeira – uma escolha que, felizmente, ajuda a sustentar a necessidade de fatos de neoprene.
Carolina was born into a family of athletes: her grandfather was an Olympic pentathlete, and her father excelled in rugby. From a young age, she grew up in an environment
in sports where men predominated, but she always found her own path in sports, starting as a ballerina and staying active with fitness over the years. Carolina is someone who constantly seeks to step out of her comfort zone and embrace new adventures. As an adult, and after having two children, she decided to learn to swim and discovered a true passion for open water swimming. This sport brought her new challenges and transformed her life, leading her to venture into triathlon as well. Today, Carolina feels that it's never too late to start and is enthusiastic about her journey as an athlete.
I started with swimming lessons, then competitive races, and finally open water swimming, where calmness and freedom come together. Adventurous and always seeking experiences connected with nature, swimming in the sea is an activity that brings me great happiness and one that I want to keep for life.
